Poland would need allied backing to shoot down Russian weapons over Ukraine

Poland's ability to intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine hinges on broader political, military, and technical agreements with NATO allies, according to Daniel Szeligowski, head of the Eastern Europe program at the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has advocated for this approach, but not everyone in Poland or NATO shares his stance.

Implementing such a policy would raise numerous questions, including who would deploy air defense systems along Poland's eastern border, under what rules, and whether the airspace would need to be closed. Ukraine currently operates under martial law, so Poland is not considering introducing martial law to allow unrestricted firing.

The military, political, and technical aspects all need to be resolved, as no single country can protect its entire territory with air defense systems. Moving air defense systems away from other areas would require agreements with Poland's allies, such as Germany or the Netherlands. While supporters of intercepting Russian missiles can advocate for the policy, a political agreement at the level of the military alliance is ultimately necessary.